Israeli Startup Phantom GI Develops Minimally Invasive Stoma Procedure
Translated & summarized from NEWSru Israel by baba
Israeli startup Phantom GI has created the PercStoma device, a new technology that allows for the creation and closure of intestinal stomas through a minimally invasive outpatient procedure. This innovation is designed for patients with severe intestinal obstruction who are too high-risk for traditional open surgery. The company estimates over 100,000 U.S. patients annually could benefit from this technique, which has already raised $5 million for development and clinical trials.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israeli startup Phantom GI developed the PercStoma device for inoperable intestinal obstruction patients.
- The PercStoma procedure creates a stoma via a single puncture under local anesthesia in about 20 minutes.
- The technology allows for stoma closure in an outpatient setting, avoiding repeat open surgery.
- Over 100,000 U.S. patients annually may need this less invasive stoma procedure.
- Phantom GI, founded in Tel Aviv in 2025, raised $5 million for development and U.S. trials.
Israeli startup Phantom GI has developed a new technology that transforms a complex bowel surgery into an outpatient procedure, potentially saving the lives of tens of thousands of inoperable patients. The innovative PercStoma device is designed for individuals suffering from severe intestinal obstruction, where traditional open surgery carries a high risk of fatal complications.
Instead of scalpels and general anesthesia, the PercStoma procedure creates a stoma, an opening connecting the intestine to the body's surface, through a single puncture under local anesthesia and X-ray guidance. The device features a patented fixation system that pulls the intestinal wall taut and seals it against the abdominal wall, while a special stent creates a safe channel for diverting intestinal contents into a standard stoma bag. The entire procedure takes approximately 20 minutes.
Furthermore, PercStoma addresses the challenge of stoma closure. Unlike traditional methods requiring a repeat open surgery, this new technology allows for the stent to be removed and the opening closed in an outpatient setting.
Dr. Eliyahu Bechhor, co-founder and chief scientific officer at Phantom GI, stated, "Today there is a group of patients for whom the standard surgical option is very dangerous, and in some cases, impossible." The company estimates that over 100,000 people in the U.S. alone require such a procedure annually.
Founded in Tel Aviv in 2025, Phantom GI has secured $5 million in seed funding for technology development and initial clinical trials in the United States.